Kirby's Dream Land

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Kirby's Dream Land

Developer(s)	HAL Laboratory, Inc.
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Designer(s)	Masahiro Sakurai
Release date(s)	^JP April 27, 1992 ^NA August 1, 1992 ^AU May 6, 1993
Genre(s)	Platform game
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: K-A (Kids to Adults)
Platform(s)	Game Boy
Media	2-megabit cartridge

Kirby's Dream Land, known in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby (星のカービィ, Hoshi no Kābī^?, lit. "Kirby of the Stars"), is a platforming video game developed by HAL Laboratory, Inc. and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy handheld video game console. It is both the first video game in the Kirby series and is also the debut of the Kirby character.^[1] It was released April 27, 1992 in Japan, August 1, 1992 in North America, and May 6, 1993 in Australia.^[2]^[3]

Kirby's Dream Land was designed by Masahiro Sakurai, then an employee of HAL Laboratory. Sakurai intended for Kirby's Dream Land to be a simple game that could be played by beginning gamers.^[4] As the inaugural Kirby title, Kirby's Dream Land created many conventions that would appear in later games in the series, including Kirby's basic moves. However, Kirby's trademark "copy" ability would not appear until Kirby's Adventure, released less than one year later.

1 Gameplay
2 Development
3 Presentation
4 Reception
5 Legacy
6 References
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] Gameplay

King Dedede has stolen all of the food from the inhabitants of Dream Land. Kirby, a resident of Dream Land, goes to retrieve the food and save Dream Land from King Dedede.^[5] Kirby's Dream Land operates similarly to other platformers during the 8-bit and 16-bit era of video games: Kirby must use various natural abilities and occasionally external abilities or items while heading toward the goal at the end of each level. Like many 1980s-era platformers, the player can accumulate points, with a extra life granted once the player has enough points. However, because Kirby lacks a save function, scores are not recorded.^[6] All levels are played on a two dimensional plane, allowing the player to move only left, right, up, and down.

Kirby's Dream Land is filled with obstacles, and the most common of these obstacles are basic enemies. The enemy that Kirby encounters most often is Waddle Dee, which became the staple enemy of the series. Some enemies such as Sir Kibble have projectiles with which to attack Kirby. In addition to these basic enemies, there are also bosses and mini-bosses. Most levels feature a mini-boss halfway through the level and a boss at the end. If Kirby touches an enemy, boss, or projectile, Kirby will lose one of his health points. The only way for Kirby to regain health is to touch certain food items. When all six health points are empty, Kirby will lose one life, and will have to start over from the beginning of the area. If all of his lives are lost, the game will end.

Kirby battling a boss named Whispy Woods.

Kirby is able to walk, swim jump, fly, and inhale a variety of enemies and objects. Kirby is able to fly for an indefinite amount of time, which allows him to reach any height not blocked or restricted by an object or obstacle. At any time when Kirby has inhaled air, he can exhale by either landing on the ground or releasing it himself. When the air is released, Kirby will exhale a puff of air, which can be used to damage enemies or destroy blocks. Kirby is also able to swim for an indefinite amount of time, and while underwater, Kirby is able to attack enemies by spitting water.

Kirby's main offensive technique is his ability to inhale enemies, objects, or food. Kirby can indefinitely inhale, and if an enemy, object, or food is in range, Kirby will eat it. When food is inhaled, it is automatically swallowed and will heal Kirby if he has any damage. When Kirby inhales an enemy or object, it remains in his mouth. At this point, Kirby can either shoot it out as a star that causes damage to anything in its path, or simply swallow it and destroy it altogether.

[edit] Development

A magazine scan of when Kirby was known as Popopo.

The character of Kirby was not always planned to star in this game. Originally, he was merely a dummy character that the developers used until they could fill the character graphics in with a better image. However, the designers grew to like Kirby so much that they decided to keep him instead of using a more advanced character. He was originally named Popopo, and Kirby's Dream Land was titled Twinkle Popopo. Eventually, he was renamed Kirby and the game was renamed as Hoshi no Kirby (literally Kirby of the Stars).^[7]

During the development of what was then referred to as Twinkle Popopo, Popopo/Kirby's color had not been decided upon. Masahiro Sakurai wanted him to be pink, while Shigeru Miyamoto felt that he should be yellow. Eventually, Nintendo decided to make him pink. When Hoshi no Kirby was first released in Japan, it featured Kirby in pinkscale. However, Nintendo of America designed the North American box art with a white Kirby based on the game's grey-scale visuals.^[7]

[edit] Presentation

The visuals are presented in two dimensions using pixelated sprites and environments. They are in black and white, similar to all other Game Boy video games.

The sound was composed by Jun Ishikawa, a regular composer in the Kirby series.^[8] Some songs were reused in later video games, such as in Super Smash Bros. Melee's Green Greens stage^[9] as well as in Super Smash Bros.'s Dream Land level.^[10]

[edit] Reception

Critical reaction

Kirby's Dream Land has an average of 69.2% at Game Rankings with three reviews.^[11] Nintendo Power reviewed Kirby's Dream Land, giving it a 3.0 in graphics in sound, a 3.7 in play control, a 3.6 in challenge, and a 4.0 in theme and fun. It was reviewed by George and Bob, regular reviewers at the time. George stated that it is a really fun game, owing its quality to its excellent play control and well thought out concept, while Bob said that it is deceptively simple looking, while it in fact features a decent challenge for more experienced players.^[12]

Consumer reaction

In Japan, Kirby's Dream Land has sold more than 1.45 million copies since its release.^[13] It was re-released as a Player's Choice title in North America,^[14] indicating that it had sold at least 1 million copies there.^[15]

[edit] Legacy

Kirby sporting the "Bomb" ability in Spring Breeze with his partner, Poppy Bros. Jr.

Kirby's Dream Land has since spawned dozens of sequels across more than a half-dozen video game consoles. The first sequel was Kirby's Adventure, and was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System console. It introduced the ability to steal powers from enemies, an ability which has been used in the majority of games following it.

Two titles were released afterwards sharing a similar title. The first was Kirby's Dream Land 2, also for the Game Boy. It takes the ability to steal powers from enemies introduced in Kirby's Adventure, and adds the ability to ride on animals. The next and final similarly titled video game in the series was Kirby's Dream Land 3 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

Kirby's Dream Land has also appeared on several other consoles in some shape or form. In Kirby's Adventure (as well as its remake), Stage 7-6 is a heavily condensed version of this game, including black and white backgrounds, the Green Greens theme music, and similar enemies as well.^[16]

Kirby's Dream Land later made a more significant appearance in Kirby Super Star for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, which is advertised as having "eight games in one" on the cover. The earliest of these games is Spring Breeze, which is a remake of Kirby's Dream Land. Notable features not found in Kirby's Dream Land include the ability to steal powers from enemies and the ability to summon an enemy as a helper to aide Kirby in battle (a feature introduced in Kirby Super Star).

Kirby's Dream Land was later re-released on the Nintendo Power system as a downloadable in Japan.^[17]